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Rescue Dawn

Rescue Dawn (2006) is based on the true account of Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), a U.S. fighter pilot who becomes a prisoner of war after getting shot down over Laos during his first secret mission during the Vietnam War. He was the only American prisoner of war to escape from a camp in the seclusion of a Laotian jungle.

In the POW camp, an arrogant Dengler meets up with five forgotten prisoners who had been there for a long time. He convinces the others to plan an escape when weather brings rain so they can survive the jungle.

It’s a harrowing tale, where prisoners endure ruthlessness, starvation, and abuse in order to render them hopeless. Dengler refused to buy in and his presence in the camp ignites a sense of reluctant hope for the other prisoners.

Christian Bale is terrific and the screenplay is compelling. Rescue Dawn was written and directed by Werner Herzog.